Coin controlled time measuring



COIN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. A. HALE ET AL Filed March 9, 1956 Nov. 15

NOV. 15, A HALEWET CO IN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1936 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 [EVEN RS %ZZ% Nov. 15, 1938. s. A. HALE ET AL 2,137,111

COIN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 NOV. 15, G A HALE ET AL COIN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 15, 1938.

G. AI. HALE ET AL COIN- CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 15, 1938. G. A. HALE ET AL com CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM I Filed 11 9, 19,36

8 Sheets-Sheet 6 QINVN Nov. 15, 1938.

e. A. HALE ET AL COIN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Filedlafch 9, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Nov. 15, 1938. G. A. HALE ET AL 2,137,111

COIN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Filed March 9, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLED TIME MEASURING MECHANISM Gerald A. Hale, Oklahoma City, and Holger G. Thuesen, Stillwater, Okla, assignors to Dual Parking Meter Company, a corporation oi Delaware Application March 9, 1936, Serial'No. 67,997 8 Claims. (01. 194-83) Our invention relates to an improvement in Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear face meters for measuring time in predetermined peof the rear plate with its bell bracket attached; riods, and more particularly to coin controlled Figure 5 is a perspective view of the complete meters of this type. device taken from the rear and showing the rela- 5 The objects of our invention are to provide a tion of the clock mechanism to the rest of the 5 device of this class which can be manuallyrendevice, as well as the relative positions of the dered operable only after the insertion of a coin flag, the time indicating hand, and the shuttle of predetermined denomination; which will aljust after a coin has been inserted, the flag raised, low coins of smaller diameter'to pass through and the device placed in operation; A

the device freely without following the normal Figure Gisasectional view of the main bushing 10 route of a coin of proper denomination, and with- Showing fragment r y h parts se b d out opera le en agement with the mechanism; thereon;

which during its operation displays a time mea- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the main suring signal or flag, the flag being so arranged bushing;

as to disappear from visibility after a certain pre- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the coin shuttle determined period of time has elapsed; which will assembly; visibly measure the passing of time until the pre- Figure 9 is a perspective view of the coin shutdetermined period has elapsed; which can not be tle bushing; rendered operable without the flag being visibly Figure 10 is a perspective view of the flag lever displayed for the entire duration of the predebushing; 20

termined period of time; which will display the Figure 11 is a perspective view of the rear face coin most recently inserted therein; the working of the front plate assembly; parts of which are so arranged as to make it im- Figure 12 is a perspective view of the front face possible for a person to maintain the flag in its of the flag assembly;

visible position, beyond the predetermined period Figure 13 is a perspective view of the operating 25 of time, by wedging or otherwise holding the opkey'sprlng; crating key against rotation; which includes an Figure 14 is a perspective view of the shuttle auxiliary signal for notifying an operator when spring bushing; he has rotated the operating key sumciently to Figure 15 is aperspective view of the main gear place the device in operation; and, which will be wheel; 30 I eflicient in accomplishing all the purposes for Figure 16 is a perspective view 01' the time indiwhich it is intended. eating a d and a latch p:

With these and other objects in view as will Figure 1'7 is a perspective view of the shuttle more fully appear hereinbelow, our invention p g: consists in the construction, novel features, and Figure 18 is a perspective view of the screw 35 combination of parts hereinafter more fully defor attaching the time indicating hand to the scribed, pointed out in the claims hereto ap main gear wheel; pended, and illustrated in the accompanying Figure 19 is a rear elevation of the device with eight-sheet drawing, of which, the rear plate and clock mechanism removed Figure l is a perspectiveview of the device comshowing the relative positions of the various parts 40 pletetaken from the front and showing the relawhile the machine is in operation and after most tive positions of the time indicating hand, the of the predetermined time has elapsed; flag, and the operating key, just after the device Figure 20 is a persp ive vi w 01' a suitable has been placed in operation, and before the housed propelling mechanism, parts being shown operating key has been released by the operator; in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the operating Figure 21 is a rear elevation with the rear key; plate and clock mechanism removed showing the Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device comrelative positions of the various parts before the plete taken from the front and showing the relapre e rmined ime h s l p ut just after tive positions of the time indicating hand, the the insertion of another coin and during the 50 flag, the-flag latch, the flag latch trip, and the clockwise rotation of the operating key, the flag clock control connector just after the predeterhaving just dropped from visibility; mined period of time has elapsed, the flag hav- Figure 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 but shows ingdisappeared from visibility, and the pm-- the relative positions of the various parts after pelling mechanism having been stopped; the operating coin has dropped into visibility in 56 coin receiver of the device.

the window; the shuttle is traveling counterclockwise on its return to normal position, the flag being about to be raised by the shuttle and the propelling mechanism being about to be started;

Figure 23 is a view similar to Fig. 21 but showing the relative positions of the various parts Just after rotation of the operating key to the limit of its throw in a clockwise direction and as the shuttle is beginning its return to normal position, the flag having just started in its upward movement;

Figure 24 is a view showing a newly inserted coin and the previously inserted coin and their relation to various parts of the device which are only fragmentarily shown; and,

Figure 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24 but shows the relation of the various parts before they reach the positions shown in Fig. 24.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

It is understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, shape, weight, material and other details of construction, within the scope of our invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or broad principle of our invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof; and it is also understood that the drawings are to be interpreted as being illustrative and not restrictive.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings.

The device consists substantially of front and rear plates spaced apart and held in position by four main plate posts; a coin disc operable by an operating key; a driven time gear wheel carrying a time indicator; a coin shuttle carrying a.

coin holder; a time measuring flag and assembly adapted to be raised by the shuttle co-acting with a flag lever, and lowered either by themanual rotation of the shuttle or mechanical rotation of the main gear, the coin disc, main gear, coin shuttle and a flag control lever all being rotatably mounted on a main bushing journaled between the front and rear plates; an independent propelling mechanism attached to the rear plate; a friction drive gear assembly connecting the propelling mechanism and the time gear; a clock control assembly adapted to stop the propelling mechanism after a predetermined time has elapsed and to start the mechanism when a new coin has been inserted and the device rendered operative. The complete device, including any suitable propelling mechanism, is adapted to be housed in a suitable housing having a transparent window for display'of the flag during operation of the device, a perforation through one wall allowing rotation of the operating key therein and a coin slot in alignment with the The housing is not a part of our invention.

The propelling unit will first be described. Referring to the drawings numeral I (Figs. 5 and 20) designates a housing which encloses any desired or usual gear train by which a shaft 2 (Fig. 20) is rotated at a predetermined average speed. The power may be provided either by electricity, by coiled spring, or any other desired means. The housing and gear train may be connected by screws or in any desired manner to a rear plate 4, (Fig. 5) so that its driving shaft 2 and its propeller unit control shaft 5 (Fig. 20) project beyond the rear plate in proximity to the rest of the mechanism. The shaft 2 carries a drive pinion l rotatable thereon between a metal friction plate I (Fig. 19) and a second washer or friction plate I, (Fig. 20) which is preferably made of fibre or like material. The metal plate I is locked to rotate with the shaft 2. The friction plate 0 is also locked to rotate with the shaft 2 by means of an irregular shaped central perforation, the outer end of the shaft being similarly shaped. A three pronged spring member 9, having a central perforation of a shape similar to the end of the shaft 2, fits on the shaft and its prongs bear against the friction plate 6 pressing said plate against the side of the drive pinion 6, the opposite side of which in turn presses against the metal friction plate I. This pressure is regulated by a nut II) which screws on the outer threaded end of the shaft 2. As the shaft is driven by the propelling unit the friction against the sides of the drive gear is sumcient to cause the pinion to drive the rest of the mechanism. In case it is desirable to reverse the rotation of the rest of the mechanism, however, the friction is slight enough to allow this reverse rotation without unmeshing the drive pinion 8 from the driven gear, in which case the pinion rotates on the shaft 2 rather than with it.

The propelling unit housing journals the unit control shaft 5 which carries intermediate its journaled ends an arm ll, shown dotted in Fig. 20. This arm may be made of light spring material, curved as shown at Ila, so that its end is in proximity to a usual balance wheel l2, in case a clock mechanism is used for power. In this case a partial rotation of the shaft 5 would cause the end of the arm II to contact the rim of the balance wheel thereby stopping the mechanism. When the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction the arm bearing against the balance wheel partially rotates the balance wheel before disengaging completely, thereby starting the clock mechanism. In all the drawings we have shown a spring operated clock mechanism as the propelling unit, but the propelling mechanism itself is not a part of the invention. It is only the control of the mechanism which we include and the mounting of the drive pinion s on the drive shaft 2. In case an electrically driven unit is used the arm ii may be dispensed with and the shaft itself connected to a rotary electric switch, so that partial rotation of the shaft would complete the circuit and start the propelling mechanism, or stop it by reverse rotation. The means which we provide for rotating the shaft 5 will be later described hereinbelow.

For ease in description please now consider the propelling unit disconnected from our device, with only the pinion gear and a portion of the shaft 2, as well as a portion of the shaft 5 in mechanical relation with our device.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 11 the front plate assembly includes a front plate It, a coin plate I4, riveted in spaced relation and held apart from the front plate by spacers l6, l1, and I! (Figs. 11 and 21) of suitable shape and thickness. Riveted to the front plate near its four corners are four identical main plate binding posts I9, 20, 2i, and 22 which hold the front and rear plates in spaced relation by means of nuts 23 (Fig. 5) which fit their reduced threaded ends.

Adjacent the post IS, with its upper end pro- Jecting beyond the upper edge of the front plate I! (Fig. 11) is riveted a flag latch bracket 24 to which is riveted a flexible flag latch 25. The upper end of the bracket is bent to form a lug 28 which serves to limit the forward and backward flexing movement 01' the latch 25. The front plate has an arcuate throughslot 21 and an arcuate slot 28 of smaller radius (Fig. 3) both having a common center, which is also common with the center of a main bushing receiving perforation 28 (Fig. 11) in the front plate. An arcuate slot 30 of slightly greater radius than slot 21 but having a common center with it, is provided in the coin plate H. A flat coin conveying disc 3| having a central perforation 32 is a'dapted to bear on and rotate around a shoulder 35 (Fig. 7) of a main bushing 33, one end 34 of which is journaled in the perforation 29 of the front plate. The coin conveying disc 3| is positioned adjacent the inner surface of the front plate i3 and' the perforation 32 (Figs. 24 and 25) of the coin disc 3| and serve to limit the rotation of the disc 3| by contacting the ends of slot 28 and the upper edge of front plate |3 simultaneously as the disc rotates in either direction about the bushing 33. The bracket has a square central perforation 31 (Fig. 11) whose center is common with the perforation 28 of the front plate. The purpose of the perforation 31 will be later described hereinbelow.

A coin receiver 38 is riveted on the front surface of plate i3 and is positioned adjacent the post 22 (Fig. 11) in alignment with the space between the front plate l3 and coin plate l4. A through perforation I20 (Figs. 1, 3 and 11) is provided in the plate l3 to allow the nut l8 and end of shaft 2 to project slightly therethrough. A machined lug 39 (Fig. 11 and Fig. 24) is provided on the plate |3 adjacent the lower-end of slot 21 to guide the downward travel of a, newly inserted coin, slug. or token or their mechanical equivalent 40, (Fig. 24) the travel of which will be later described hereinbelow.

The-rear face of the coin plate H has an integral outstanding lug 4| (Fig. 11) adjacent the lug 39, as well as an integral lug 42 (Fig. 24) which acts as a coin guide and holder in co-operation with a coin spring 43 (Fig. 11) held in position by a machined tongue 44 and having its bent ends 45 and 46 (Figs. 11 and 24) projecting through a suitable slot 41 in the coin plate i4, and into the space between the plates I3 and I4.

The lug 42 (Fig. 24) and the spring 43 are located on opposite sides of a circular perforation 48 (Fig. 3) in the front plate I 3 and serve to hold the coin for visible display in this perforation. When the coin is pushed downward the spring end 45 (Fig. 24) is pushed aside by the edge of the coin as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 23 and the coin is free to drop allowing the display of a newly inserted coin in the perforation 48 (Fig. 3).

The coin plate |4 carries an integral bumper bracket 48 (Fig. 11) centrally perforated to receive the split end of a bumper post 50 which holds an annular rubber bumper 5| against said bracket by having its split ends bent as shown in Fig. 11. The purpose of the bumper will be later explained. The plate I4 is also provided with a flag pivot bearing 52 (Fig. 11) which journals one end of a flag pivot 53 (Figs. 6 and 12).

The coin shuttle assembly (Fig. 8) will next be described. A coin shuttle 54 is provided with a central perforation", which is of a size to receive the small end M of a shuttle bushing 53 which in turn fits around the previously described main bushing 33, allowing the shuttle 54 to rotate about the main bushing. One end 5 of the shuttle carries a perpendicular rearwardly extending lug 68, the purpose of which will be later explained, and also an eyelet 6| for receiv-- ing one end 62 (Fig. 17) of a shuttle spring 63. The opposite end of the shuttle 54 carries a forwardly extending slotted flange 64 (Figs. 5, 8 and 24) so positioned that its slot I22 lies in the same plane as the coin plate i4 when the shuttle is in assembled position, and so that the slot rotates in the same are and is guided by the outer edge of slot 30 in the plate |4 (Figs. 5 and 11). Between the perforation 55 and flange 64 the shuttle carries a coin holder 65 (Figs. 8, 24 and 25) rotatably mounted on a bushing rivet I23 (Fig. 8). Clockwise rotation of the coin holder 65 is limited'by a forwardly extending machined lug 66 integral with the shuttle, and the counterclock wise rotation of the holder .65 is limitedby a notched pawl 61, which is also rotatably mounted on the front side of the shuttle adjacent the coin holder 65, by means of a ushing rivet I24. A pawl spring 68 mounted n the shuttle bears against the outer end of the pawl and normally keeps the opposite notched end of the pawl in contact with the coin holder 65. The shuttle 54 is also provided with a machined lug 68 (Fig. 8) projecting beyond the front surface of the shuttle, the purpose of which will be later described. Between the shuttle 54 and the coin disc 3| in their assembled relation, a time gear. 18 (Figs. 3 and 15) is rotatably mounted on the large portion 35 (Fig. 7) of the main bushing 33. A. portion of its periphery carries teeth 1| (Figs. 3 and 15), which lie in the same plane and mesh with the teeth on drive pinion 6 (Figs. 19' and 2 Adjacent its outer periphery the gear 18 is provided with a plurality of spaced threaded perforations 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D,

12E, and 12F (Fig. 15) for the purpose of securing on said gear 16 a time indicator 13 (Figs.

3 and 6) in various positions, by means of a screw 14 (Figs. 3 and 18) screwed into any of these perforations. Small lugs 15 and 16 (Figs. 3 and 6) are provided on the indicator 13 to contact the periphery of the gear 16 and prevent rotation of the indicator 13 about the screw 14. A flag latch trip 11 (Figs. 1, 3 and 16) is integral with and extends rearwardly from the indicator 13,and serves to contact and push outward the upper end of the flag latch 25 (Fig. 3), as the gear H1 is driven counterclockwise by the pinion 6. r

The gear 15 has a rearwardly extending machined lug (Fig. 15) which rotates with the gear in the same arc and in the same plane as the lug 69 (Fig. 8) carried by the shuttle 64. The lug 68 therefor contacts the lug III as the shuttle rotates in a clockwise direction, forcing the time gear 16 and the indicator 13 to rotate with the shuttle. The time gear 18 also has a forwardly extending lug 2 (Fig. 15) machined out of itsouter edge which rotates with the gear (when the gear is in assembled position) in the same plane as the plane in which the front plate l3 lies. The lug serves to limit the clockwise rotation of the gear 18 by contacting the edge of the front plate I8 (shown in Fig. 1 about to contact the edge of front plate).

The larger portion of the bushing 88 (Fig. 8) as well as the lugs l8, 8'! and 88 (Fig. 8) theresurrounding serve to space the shuttle 84 away from the gear I and allow free movement of the coin holder 85 and pawl 81 therebetween (Fig. 6). The coin holder 85 has a forwardly extending arm 18 (Fig. 8) at right angles to the main body of the holder which in assembled position extends through the slot 21 (Figs. 1, 3, 24 and 25), and co-operates with the coin disc 8| to hold a coin 40 therebetween (clearly shown in Fig. 25) and to carry the coin thus held in an are about the main bushing with the front plate I8 and the time gear I8 acting as side guides.

The coin holder 85 is also provided with a short rearwardly projecting lug I8 (Fig. 8) and an outwardly projecting arm 80, the purposes of which will be later described.

We will now describe the flag assembly (Fig. 2) which consists substantially oi the following described elements: a flag lever 8i; a flag lever bushing 82, (Fig. whose central perforation fits the main bushing 88, the small portion of which fits the central perforation I28 of the flag lever 8i, and the large portion of which acts to space the lever 8| from the shuttle 54 (Fig. 6); a flag bracket 88 (Fig. 12); a connector link 84 pivoted at one end by a bushing rivet to the flag lever 8i and at its other end pivoted to the flag bracket 83; a flag pivot 58; a flag 85 fastened to the upper edge of the bracket 88 by means of a screw 88 screwed into a threaded perforation in the bracket 88 and a bolt 81 (Fig. 12) fitted with an interiorly threaded bushing nut 88 (Figs. 1 and 12) on which is pivoted a clapper bracket 88 carrying a clapper 80; and a clock control link 9! having one of its ends pivoted to the flag bracket 88 adiacent the pivot 53, by means of a bushing rivet. The opposite or free end of the link Si is fitted with a bushing rivet 92 which in operating position fits between the forked ends of a clock control connector 88 (Figs. 19 and 20) which in turn is locked in position on the shaft 5 by means of a nut 84 (Figs. 3 and 20). This relation is best shown in Figs. 3, 19, 21, 22 and 23, and will be further elaborated.

The flag 85 is preferably constructed of colored transparent material such as Celluloid or the like, and preferably has printed thereon an arcuate time measuring scale with indicating numerals included. The clapper bracket 89 is provided with two forwardly projecting lugs 85 and 86 (Figs. 1 and 12) which limit its rotation in both directions by contacting the upper and lower edges respectively of the flag bracket 88. The flag lever has a notched end 81, and the entire lever rotates about the main bushing 88 in the same plane, as the lug I8 (Fig. 8) of the coin holder 85 which is carried by the coin shuttle 54. With the coin holder 85 held at its limit of clockwise rotation about its own axis, the lug I8 freely passes the end 8'! of the flag lever 8| as either the shuttle 54 or lever 8i rotate about the main bushing. With the coin holder held at its limit of counterclockwise rotation, however, the lug I9 of the coin holder 85 contacts the end 81 of the flag lever and forces the lever to rotate with the shuttle 54 as the shuttle rotates about the main bushing 88. This relative rotation will later be explained more fully. The opposite end 88 of the flag lever 8| is of a length and rotates in the proper plane to be contacted by the flag latch 88 (Figs. 1 and 11) in normal position, and is thus Prevented from clockwise rotation until the flag latch is released.

Fitting adjacent the flag lever II and its bushing 82 on the main bushing 88 is a shuttle spring bushing 88 (Figs. 6 and 14) which serves to center and hold the coiled portion of the shuttle spring 88 (Figs. 17, 19, and 21). The end I00 (Fig. 17) of the shuttle spring bears against the main plate binding post as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 21. with the end 82 of the spring 88 anchored in eyelet II of the shuttle 54 (Fig. the spring 88 normally tends to hold the shuttle at its limit of counterclockwise rotation, this rotation being limited by the arm 80 of the coin holder 85 bearing against the bumper post 58 (Figs. 5 and 19).

The rear plate 4 (Figs. 4 and 5) is next in order of assembly and has four corner perforations to receive the threaded ends of posts I8, 88, 2| and 22 (Fig. 11) and is held thereon by nuts 88 (Fig. 5). It has a central perforation IOI (Fig. 4) for Journaling one end of the main bushing 88. and is also provided with a large irregular shaped opening I02 which permits operative relations be tween our device and the propelling mechanism. The rear plate also carries a bell bracket I88 on the outer end of which is secured a bell I84 (Fig. 1) by means of a screw through the bracket. The rear plate also is provided with a flag pivot bearing I85 (Fig. 4) which journals one end of the flag pivot 58 (Figs. 5 and 12), the other end being journaled in bearing 82 (Figs. 5 and 11) of the coin plate I4.

An operating key I08 (Fig. 2) has a square shoulder I0I near its outer end. and the remainder of its shank I88 is cylindrical and is Journaled by the central bore of the main bushing 88, as shown in Fig. 5. The main bushing projects beyond the outer surface of the rear plate 4 and this projecting end carries the coiled portion of an operating key spring I08 (Figs. 5 and 13) having one hooked end bearing on a cotter key III (Fig. 5) through the end of the shank I08 of the operating key,'and its other endhooking over the edge of the rear plate 4 (Fig. 5). The square shoulder I0I of the operating key seats in the square perforation 81 (Fig. ll) of the coin disc bracket 88 (Figs. 1 and 3) locking the bracket 88 and the coin disc 8i to rotate with the operating key I88. The spring I08 (Fig. 5) tends to keep the operating key I08 and the coin disc 8| at their limit of counterclockwise rotation, rotation in this direction being limited as previously described. This normal position of the coin disc 8i is shown in Fig. 19.

The description thus far has shown the order of assembly of the parts. The assembled relation of the various parts on the main bushing 88 is clearly shown in Fig. 6 which also shows the relative spacing of the parts. From bottom to top in Fig. fijwhich is the order of assembly, there are: front plate I8 (Fig. 11), coin disc 8I (Fig. 11), time gear I0 (Fig. shuttle bushing 88 (Fig. 9). shuttle 54 (Fig. 8), flag lever bushing 82 (Fig. 10), flag lever 8i (Fig. 12) shuttle spring bushing 88 (Fig. 14), and rear plate 4 (Fig. 4). With the device thus assembled the propelling mechanism is secured in position on the rear plate 4 with the teeth of the pinion 8 meshing with the teeth II on the time gear 10, (Fig. 19), and

the bushing rivet 82 on the lower end of the clock control link 8| is forced by slight pressure between the forked ends of the connector 88 and is held in operative relation by side pressure of the forked ends. (Clearly shown in Figs. 3, l9, and 23.)

With the device thus assembled its operation will now be described. Please bear in mind that when the flag is in a raised position it is visible from the outside of a suitable housing-(not shown) in which the meter is enclosed, and that when the coin is visible in the perforation 48 (Fig. 3) of the front plate, it may also be seen through a glass window (not shown) in the housing; also that the operating key extends through the wall of the housing so that the key may be manually rotated from the outside.

Fig. 3 shows the normal relative positions of the parts when the meter isinoperative. The main gear Ill has been driven .to its limit of counterclockwise rotation and the trip 11 has pushed back the flag latch 25 thereby releasing the end 98 (Figs. 12 and 19) of the flag control lever 8|, and the weight of the flag and flag bracket 83 has caused the flag to rotate on its pivot 53 and to drop out of sight, the connector 84 forcing the lever ill to rotate clockwise, the drop of the flag 85 and the clockwise rotation of the lever 8| being limited by the clapper on the clapper bracket 89 contacting the offset shoulder I I3 (Fig. 4) of the bracket I03. The notched end 91 of the flag lever does not contact the lug 19 of the coin holder 85 during this rotation (see Fig. 19) because the coin holder is in its normal position at the limit of its clockwise rotation about its own axis. As the flag drops the control link 9| is forced downward causing connector 93 to partially rotate shaft 5 clockwise, which rotation brings the spring arm N (Fig. 20) into contact with the rim of the balance wheel I2, stopping the clock mechanism. This applies, of course, in case a clock mechanism is used to propel our meter. If an electric propelling mechanism is used, the

inner end of the shaft 5 is simply locked to rotate.

with a suitable rotary switch (not shown). Rotation of the shaft clockwise would break the circuit and rotation counterclockwise would complete the circuit.

The last coin inserted in the meter is displayed in the perforation 48 of the front plate l3, being held in this position by one end 45 (Figs. 19 and 23) of the coin'spring in co-operation with the lug 42. A new coin inserted in a coin slot in the housing (not shown) drops into the coin receiver 38 and is thereby guided into the space between the coin plate l4 and the front plate l3, rolls downward and inward on the upper edge of spacer |8 (Fig. 19) until its edge seats against the upper concave edge I4 (Figs. 11, 19 and 25) of the coin disc 3|, and the lower edge of the coin rests on the arm 18 of the coin holder (Figs. 3, 8 and 25).

Manual rotation of the operating key I86 clockwise rotates the coin disc 3|, as previously described, the coin transmitting pressure from the disc to the arm I8 of the coin holder 55 and causing the shuttle 54 and its assembled parts (as shown in Fig. 8) to rotate (as shown in Figs. 21 and 25) clockwise with the disc 3|. It will be noted that the back pressure of the shuttle spring holds the coin between the coin disc 3| and the arm 18 (Fig. 25) during the arcuate travel of the coin with these two members, but that the pressure of the edge of the coin on the arm 18 tends also to rotate the coin holder 55 (of which arm 18 is an integral part) about its own axis of rotation counterclockwise, but that the pawl 51 (Fig.

8) prevents this rotation.

The clockwise rotation and corresponding relative movement of the various parts is clearly shown in Fig. 21. As the shuttle rotates, its lug 58 contacts lug of the time gear and thus rotates it to its limit of clockwise rotation, and places the indicator 18 in a position to measure the passing of time against the scale on the flag 85. If it is desired to measure the maximum period of time the indicator is attached to the time gear 10 at perforation 12F (Fig. 15). If a less period of time is desired the indicator may be attached at any of the other perforations, depending on the length of time desired to be measured.

It will also be noted that in case the predetermined time has not elapsed before a new coin is inserted, and the flag is still in a raised position (see Fig. 19) the end 5 (Figs. 8 and 21) of the shuttle 54 in passing pushes the flag latch 25 outward and releases the end 98 of the flag lever 8| allowing the flag to drop by gravity. In case the flag fails to drop by gravity after the end 98 has been released, the lug 60 (Fig. 21) of the shuttle 54 contacts the lower edge of end 98 forcing the flag lever 8| to rotate clockwise with the shuttle, which in turn forces the flag downward out of sight. The desirability of this feature is very important. The operator must necessarily force the various parts of the device through a complete cycle of movement before the timing mechanism can begin operating.

Fig. 23 shows the relation of the various parts just as they reach their limit of clockwise rotation, such rotation being caused, of course, by manual rotation of the operating key I06. The lower end of the pawl 61 has contacted the lug 4|, which contact has partially rotated the pawl, moving its upper notched end away from the coin holder 65. The pressure of the coin disc 3| on the coin 40 and of the edge of the coin downward on the arm 18 has caused the coin holder 85 to partially rotate about its axis. The arm 18 is thus moved away from the coin disc 3| a sufilcient distance to allow the coin 48 to pass therebetween, which simultaneously allows the shuttle spring 63 to rotate the shuttle 54 and coin holder 65 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 23 and 24).

The coin now freely drops toward the lug 38 (Fig.

24) which guides it downward where it is held by lug 42 and spring 43 visibly displayed in the perforation 48 (as shown in Fig. 3). During the clockwise rotation of the shuttle and before it reaches its limit of rotation, the edge of its slotted flange 64 (Fig. 23) contacts the edge of the previously inserted coin and pushes it downward past the end 45 of coin spring 43 (Fig. 24) whence it drops into any suitable receptacle therebelow, and clears the perforation 48 for display of the newly inserted coin 48.

By observing Fig. 23 it will be noted that as the arm 18 of the coin holder partially rotates the holder 55, the lug 19 of the coin holder moves inward toward the main bushing reducing the arc in which it travels with the shuttle, so that as the shuttle rotates counterclockwise the outer surface of the lug 19 contacts the notched end 91 of the flag lever 8|, and rotates said lever. Fig. 25 shows the relative position of coin holder, coin disc, and coin before the release of the pawl 61 allows the coin holder 65 to rotate about its axis, and Fig. 24 shows the relation of these members after the pawl has been tripped and has released the holder 65.

Fig. 22 shows the relation of the various parts during their counterclockwise rotation, and after play perforation I. The shuttle spring 08 is, of course, causing the counterclockwise rotation of shuttle. Control of any part of the internal mechanism is lost to the operator at the instant the coin holder rotates, as Just described. In other words the coin is necessary to allow an operator to place our device in operating condition, and after being placed in operative condition the internal parts co-operate to set our meter in operation without additional help from the operator.

As the shuttle returns (Fig. 22) to its normal position, the contact of the lug ll rotates the lever 8|, causes the connector II to forcibly push the flag bracket I8 and flag" (Fig. 22) into a raised position, visible through glass windows in the housing (not shown). As the flag raises and the lever Ii rotates, the end ll of the flag lever pushes the flag latch 2| outward and after the end ll passes the flag latch 2|, the latch 2| returns to normal position and its extreme end prevents clockwise rotation of the flag lever Ii, thus holding the flag in a raised position until the latch II is again forced outward.

We have now followed the complete cycle of operation. and the various parts of our meter are now in the relation shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 19, with the exception that Fig. 19 shows the indicater in a position indicating that all the predetermined time saw ten minutes has elapsed. The device is in operation, the propelling mechanism having been started by the partial rotation of the shaft I. and the consequent action of the spring arm ii on the balance wheel i2, as previously described. The rotation of the shaft 8 was caused by the raising of the link 8| (Fig. 19) with the flag bracket, in connection with the forked connector II.

The shuttle spring has suiiicient tension to cause almost instantaneous action of the parts as just described. As the flag raises the clapper 9. rings the inner surface of the hell I, audibly notifying the operator that the device has started operation. The rising of the flag visibly notifies an operator that the device has started operascope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by letters Patent, is:

1. In a coin controlled device: a manually rotatable coin disc having a peripheral arcuate slot for contacting a coin edge; a coin shuttle independently rotatable about an axis common to the axis of said disc and in close proximity thereto; a coin holder rotatably mounted on said shuttle and including an integral arm projecting axially toward the slot in said coin disc; a coin holder pawl rotatably mounted on said shuttle adjacent said holder and normally adapted to limit the rotation of the coin tion about its axis a fixed pawl release member; means for guiding a coin to a position between the coin holder arm and the slotted edge of the disc; said holder and disc being so constructed and positioned as to be locked to rotate together holder in one direc- 8,187,111 the newly inserted coin has dropped in the dis- 'byaooinheldtherebetween: saidpawlreleass member adapted to partially aiterapredetcrminedtravelofdiscandabuttle. thus releasing said coin hoiderto partialrotation relation; and power means for returning the shuttle and coin holder to their original positions after the release of the coin.

2. In a coin controlled device: a manually rotatable coin disc having a peripheral arcuate slot for contacting a coin edge; a coin shuttle independently rotatable about an axis common to the axis of said disc and in close proximity thereto; a coin holder rotatably mounted on said shuttle and including an integral arm projecting axially toward the slot in said coin disc; a coin holder pawl rotatably mounted on said shuttle adjacent said holder and normally adapted to limit the rotation of the coin holder in one direction about its axis; a fixed pawl release member; means for guiding a coin to a position between the coin holder arm and the slotted edge of the disc; said holder and disc being so constructed and positioned as to be locked to rotate together by a coin said pawl release member rotate said pawl after a predetermined travel of disc and shuttle, thus releasing said coin holder to partial rotation relative to the coin disc, thus releasing the coin from between the two and dissolving their locked relation; power means for returning the shuttle and coin holder to their original positions after the release of the coin; a movable operation disclosing signal; means for moving the signal into an operation disclosing position, said means being so constructed and positioned as to be motivated by said coin holder only as the shuttle is returned to its normal position, thus moving said signal to its operation disclosing position; means for maintaining the signal in its operation disclosing position; and means for moving the signal away from its operation disclosing position.

3. The combination with a propelling mechanism adapted to rotate a drive shaft at a predetermined average speed of: a time measuring flag: a rotatably mounted coin disc; at rotatably mounted time gear having a time indicator attached thereto; said disc, gear, planes about and shuttle rotatable in diiferent a common axis; coin controlled means for manually rotating said shuttle in one direction; spring means for rotating said shuttle in the opposite direction; a coin holder rotatably mounted on said shuttle adapted to be carried in an are about said shuttle axis as said shuttle rotates, and to co-operate with the edge of said coin disc to hold a coin therebetween; said coin adapted to lock said shuttle to rotate in one direction with said coin disc; means for releasing said coin from between said disc and coin holder and means for simultaneously partially rotating said coin holder about its axis reducing the arc in which its upper end travels with said shuttle; spring means for speedily returning said shuttle a rotatably mounted coin shuttle;

said mechanism as said flag is lowered; means for frictionally connecting said drive shaft to drive said time gear; and means for manually rotating said coin disc.

4. In a coin controlled time measuring meter, the combination with a propelling mechanism adapted to rotate a drive shaft at a predetermined average speed,. of: a front plate; a rear plate; means for holding said plates in spaced relation; a main bushing journaled between said plates; a coin plate held in spaced relation on the inner surface of said front plate; a coin recelver'for receiving and guiding a coin between said front and coin plates; a coin disc manually rotatable about said main bushing in a plane between said front and coin plates; 9. time gear rotatable about said main bushing; a time indicator carried by said time gear; a coin shuttle rotatable about said main bushing; a coin holder and a coin holder pawl carried by said shuttle and rotatably mounted thereon on separate axes; a time measuring flag pivoted at one of its ends between said coin and rear plates; a flag control lever for raising and lowering said flag rotatable about said main bushing; an operating key journaled in a central bore of said main bushing and locked to rotate with said coin disc; said shuttle adapted to be locked to rotate with said coin disc by a coin held at its edges between said disc and said coin holder; said holder adapted to release said coin and said locked relation of coin disc and shuttle simultaneously assaid pawl limits the manual rotation of said shuttle; a shuttle spring for returning said shuttle, coin holder, and pawl to their normal positions after being thus released; said coin holder adapted to rotate said flag lever and raise said flag as said holder is returning to its normal position; means for connecting said drive shaft to said time gear to rotate said time gear as said drive shaft rotates.

5. In a coin controlled meter for measuring a predetermined period of time, the combination with a propelling mechanism adapted to operate at a given average speed, of: a time gear adapted to be rotated by said mechanism; a time indicator adjustably attached to said time gear; a movable time measuring flag; a flag control lever for raising and lowering said flag; a coin controlled shuttle manually rotatable in one direction; a spring for rotating said shuttle in the opposite direction; a manually rotatable coin disc; said turning said coin disc to norm 6, In a coin controlled device; a manually onerable rotatably mounted coin contacting disc; :1

concentrically mounted independently rotatable coin shuttle; a rotatably mounted coin contacting member carried by the shuttle; said member and said disc adapted to contact the edges of a coin and cooperatively hold the coin therebetween, and adapted to thus lock the shuttle to rotate with the disc; and cooperating means for partially rotating said coin contacting member with relation to shuttle and disc, thus releasing the coin and breaking thelocked relation of shuttle and. disc as they reach a predetermined point in their travel.

7. In a coin controlled device: a coin chute; a rotatable coin disc; a rotatable coin shuttle; a coin holder pivotally mounted on said shuttle; said holder and said disc adapted to contact" opposite edges of a coin and to thus cooperatively hold a coin therebetween, and said shuttle and coin disc adapted to be locked to rotate together by said coin; said disc and shuttle, as they rotate together, adapted to carry said coin to said coin chute, and means for rotating said coin holder on said shuttle after the coin has reached a point above the coin chute, thereby releasing said coin from between said disc and holder, and dissolving the locked relation of disc and shuttle.

8. A parking meter including: a timing'mechanism; an indicator; means cooperating with the indicator to indicate time; a coin controlled means for setting the indicator, said means adapted to hold an inserted coin until the indicator setting operation has been fully completed, and operative connections between the timing mechanism and the setting means rendering the timing mechanism inoperable until after the setting operation has been fully completed.

GERALD A. HALE. HOLGER G. THUESEN. 

